LOWELL – Stephen Kennedy Smith is no stranger to substance use disorder and mental health issues. He has seen the impacts of these diseases first hand.

Smith is the son of Jean Kennedy and the nephew of Jack, Robert and Teddy Kennedy. His young cousin, Saorise Kennedy Hill, recently died tragically from an overdose.

On Sept. 26, Smith will speak at the annual Lowell Celebrating Recovery Breakfast, which is sponsored by Lowell House Addiction Treatment and Recovery (LHATR), according to a LHATR press release.

“As a lawyer, professor, and entrepreneur, he has made a major impact on addiction treatment services,” the press release said of Smith.

During the breakfast, Smith will share insights in a special presentation called “Stepping Into Their Shoes.” The presentation will also highlight a new film created with filmmaker James Wahlberg about people with substance use disorder called “In Their Shoes.”

Smith is a board member, advisory board member or partner in several healthcare and technology businesses. He also currently lectures at the Sloan School of Management’s visionary investing program and is a fellow at MIT’s Connection Science Group, the release said.

“Stephen’s highly personal, inspirational style of speaking engages audiences with a humanistic, inclusive, and relevant call to action for positive change,” David Shire of MIT Sloan School said in the press release.

For 48 years, LHATR has served the Merrimack Valley community by providing a variety of services including outpatient, day-treatment, case management, residential recovery, sober and transitional housing programs.

In addition to Smith, the event will feature many other important speakers and stories. The LHATR voices of recovery will share “their unique stories of vigilance and hope” and teens in recovery will perform a skit via Drug Story Theater. Paul Melkonian will also tell the story of his 30-plus-years struggle with addiction, and “his latest triumph – becoming the program manager at Zack’s House for recovering young men,” the press release said. The RDM singers will perform inspirational music.

Emma R. Murphy joined The Sun as a reporter covering Billerica, Tewksbury and Wilmington in 2019. Previously, Emma spent four years covering Brookline and Needham for the Brookline TAB and Needham Times. A University of Vermont graduate, Emma enjoys kayaking, cooking and traveling. She once hiked coast to coast across northern England.